Ray of Light
Sunday, February 1, 2009 at 11:29 AM ![[2009.01.20] Inauguration of President Barack Obama](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3461/3213074243_2133d0a214.jpg)
Image via Flickr user sp1ffyd / Creative Commons
Dedicated followers of Mrs. O's fashion statements have long admired her style savvy, but over the last few days it's become clear just how fashion forward she is in her color choices. Rich purples were the palette of Fall 2008 and Mrs. O looked suitably regal throughout the campaign in mauves, violets and indigos.
In the days leading up to the Inauguration, however, hints of a new palette emerged starting with her appearance at the Kid's Inaugural concert in a sunshine yellow cardigan and culminating in her radiant Inauguration day ensemble. It's no surprise then to learn that fashionistas and interior designers alike have declared yellow the colour of 2009.
Historically regarded as a notoriously tricky colour to pull off, yellow has been given a gradual new lease of life in recent years via show-stopping red carpet appearances from Cate Blanchett, Michelle Williams and Angelina Jolie and is now enjoying its moment in the sun. Vibrant shades of primrose, lemon and canary yellow popped up everywhere on the Spring Summer catwalks, from cocktail dresses to clutches.
At Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs showed bold mustard tones on everything from classically tailored pants to feathered minis, while at his own show he paired canary yellow with sky blue-a very Mrs. O combination. Flirty mini-dresses in warm, sunny hues brightened the Dior runway while Versace showed a more structured take on the theme in cooler lemon colours. A quieter take on the shade was seen at Givenchy, with soft lemon shades romantically overlaid with beige chiffon while Christopher Bailey showed muted saffron shades for Burberry Prorsum.
Both Missoni and Moschino featured playful, vibrant yellow prints while Donna Karan showed effortlessly elegant swathes of the palest gold and primrose. While the spectrum of shades should offer something for everyone, head to toe yellow can still be a little daunting. For a less extreme nod to the color of the moment, these Lanvin ballet flats offer a very Mrs. O hit of citrus patent. While we're pretty sure Mrs. O's radiance comes from within, we can probably all use a little sunshine in our wardrobes while we brave the winter cold.
Outfits
Reader Comments (25)
EGH...please don't bite. In fact, please go away. Seriously, why are you hanging around? And making such absurd comments? Why don't you find a blog that you do enjoy if this one is not to your liking?
Anyway, as for the topic at hand, yellow is actually not a color that Michelle wears often, which is why I was surprised (pleasantly) at the Toledo outfit--though that one was more lemongrass. I think the Tonight Show outfit was one of the first times I saw her in yellow, though there was also this look from the campaign trail when she wore a GORGEUS suit with flared sleeves, and a yellow blouse:
http://www.moonbattery.com/michelle_obama_screaming.jpg
Jenna, thanks for that photo. That's one of the things I love about Mrs O -- she has redefined the "power suit." For career women like me, that's an inspiration.
I've heard a number of people say they don't want to see her in suits because it's customary for politicos to wear them but I, for one, want to see her in MORE suits. Because her suits are different from any other, and it's time we had a fresh, innovative look in business suits as well as other types of outfits.
I love yellow and Mrs. Obama wears it beautifully. Sadly, I don't. Whenever I try on something yellow, my "white" skin makes me look like I just had a bout with the flu.
Does anyone else have that problem? Are there shades of yellow that wouldn't give me that sickly pallor?
And EGH, I can afford those shoes if I treat myself and being tall (~5'9") I appreciate Mrs. T's effort to bring them to my attention. I imagine that along with different ages, there are girls and women of all races and income levels reading this blog. Why are you so negative?
EGH, again. It's not that hard. If you have these concerns, although they are absurd and unfounded, you should find another blog to visit.
Chicagoan, yes, Mrs.O should wear more suits! I think she goes out of her way not to because she's trying not to look like a political wife, hence why she wore the (beautiful) Tracy Feith dress to that Prayer Service, even though everyone else wore a suit. And when she DOES wear suits, they tend to be very quirky.
My favorite suit she ever wore was this pinstriped highwaisted pansuit, completely with a flower brooch on the lapel. So lovely! If I was tall enough to pull it off, I would get one EXACTLY like it.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Cry2hN-xUQM/SLLbCIoDkGI/AAAAAAAAAXA/WSQjulVerEY/s400/michelle+obama+suit.jpg
EGH, as much as I find your insistence and repetitiveness laughably sad, I take offense to the idea that we (the readers) are not *intelligent* enough to decide how, when and where to spend our own hard-earned money.
I can afford the Lanvin flats, yes. But I don't spend that kind of money on clothes (I prefer jewelry, personally). But, like watching any other woman who's look inspires me, I learn from the overall look and then go find similar styles at TJ Maxx, DSW, etc.
Perhaps you can take your crusade against companies earning money to other sites first, where it might make more difference? Like the NYT fashion blog, for example... they frequently post about fashions shows where (gasp!) designers make money. Heavens, I think the NYT makes money, too!
Or, if you just hate consumer-generated media mentioning product names, maybe you could start attacking all the "mommy bloggers" out there. They're often paid or receive product samples from companies so they write about their experiences with the products -- from food, to fashion, to video games. I suppose you'd have a problem with that, too.
hey...is anyone else having a tough time commenting. There seems to be some kind of glitch. Though if you are reading this, maybe it's fixed? lol
OK. Of course my comment would finally go through when I am asking about comments! Makes perfect sense. haha
Anyway, I was trying to say that Mrs. went to a black-tie dinner last night. The Alfalfa dinner, which she attended with Mr. O. And likely wore something gorgeous! However, there were no reporters allowed, so I don't think we'll get pictures of her outfit, though hopefully, one will surface.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gOd9ur2pqXI4GxHHbfsxubqJ1OsQD962J7800
EGH--since you seem to take the issue of full disclosure so seriously, why don't you tell us how much money you make each year? We'd like to know.
Unless you're unemployed, I'd like to know if your salary is
even remotely connected to advertising? Think carefully before you answer.
After all, many of us do. If we're cashiers in a grocery store, we're dependent on the store drawing in customers to buy food and that in part comes from advertising. the same for beauty salon workers or dog grooomers or even hospital workers. And the higher you go on the econimic scale, the more likely it is that your income is connected at least loosely with some form of advertising. So are you really as free from what you perceive as the evils of advertising as you maintain?
I've seen you post on other sites--political ones and family-oriented ones--and in the past you have shown a determined slant to the Republican right. Seems like you're up to your usual tricks here, too.
Do you have a real interest in Michelle Obama? Did you like her during the campaign? Or are you just mad that she is the new First Lady?
Some of my questions are personal, but then so were yours. So I'm sure you agree that turnabout is fair play. In the interest of full disclosure, please tell us how much revenue you've grabbed in the last year -- since you seem so concerned about "where the grab for revenue will end."
Here's my disclosure: I am not employed by any advertising agendy or fashion venture. I'm a tenured professor at state university, teaching returning adult night students who want to finish their degrees and get ahead in life.
I'm not grabbing a lot of money myself, but I certainly feel that people have a right to make a living--even blog writers. And I believe that people have a right to enjoy this blog without someone like you, with a true hidden agenda, stirring up hate.
EGH: Who ARE you?! I don't recall seeing your comments as a member of our blog community here until the Mrs. O T-shirt unveiling. (?) PLEASE take your righteous indignation and conspiracy theories somewhere else, PLEASE! This site has been such a welcomed respite for many of us over the past few months as we deal with all the economic fall-out. Please don't cast a cloud over our much-needed - and enjoyable - escape. Thank you.
some nice pics...
http://lifepath.eons.com/images/member/7/5/75335716_460x.jpeg
http://www.caramelbella.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/essence-magazine-the-obama-family-2.jpg
Yay. My comments all came through.
Suji, they are nice pictures! The second one reminds me how devoted Michelle Obama is to her children--shown not only through her embrace of them, but also through her way of choosing their outfits so that the clothes (colors, textures, shapes) work well for each child and work well for one another as a group/family during public outings.
i don't mind the plugs for products because i can't afford any of them anyway, so it's pretty easy to just gawk at the pretty stuff and ignore the marketing maneuvering behind it (although i find that aspect fascinating because that's what i studied in college). however, there's no reason to jump all over EGH for pointing it out, this is in a sense "corporate" blog, so yes it's reasonable to question how that impacts the content. is all the content created as a marketing vehicle? probably not, is some of it? absolutely, but it doesn't make it any less enjoyable to consume.
Debra, perhaps you could try chartreuse? You say you don't look well in yellow. Neither do I (reasons same as yours). When I was younger, though, I wore quite a bit of chartreuse and by chartreuse I mean the color now called 'web chartreuse' as explained and shown here :) :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chartreuse_(color)
Slightly off-topic, and maybe this comment won't even go through again, but here is Jason Wu talking about the inauguration dress. It's a nice article. I am happy for him to have gotten such a jumpstart in his career from all the attention:
http://www.mercurynews.com/lifestyle/ci_11593136
I can't wear yellow, either. It washes me out and makes me look totally bland. I like the suggestion of trying chartreuse instead. Good idea, Allegra.
Thanks, Mrs. McD, for the great primer on this season's fashion "yellow"s. I agree with your comment that yellow hues can be tricky - seems to come down to skin tone, more than hair color. For all of us, a touch of yellow added to our wardrobes just might be uplifting in these gloomy times!
Chicagoan @ 12:30p thank you so much for that comment!
Why does there seem to be an increase in the trolls around here lately. UGH!
Anyway, I love vibrant colors. I love seeing them and wearing them; a simple cardigan in the hue can make an outfit look extraordinary. Anyone who knows me knows I live for bright pops of color, highly saturated and vibrant, never blindlingly bright and garish.
I especially love when First Lady O wears purples, yellows, and reds. Her richly colored (not to metion flawless) skintone looks amazing in those colors.
I see some ladies saying they can't wear yellow. My two cents on that matter, everyone can wear every color. It's all about finding the right shade.
I have very fair skinned friends and family members who say they get washed out by color X, but them have darker
skinned loved ones saying color X is too bright for them.
Pastel yellow isn't for everyone, but neither is marigold. Same for baby blue and navy; and lavendar and plum, etc. Don't be afraid of colors ladies, I'm always sure to wear a red bangle or scarf on my "black & white" days. :p
Debra, try wearing a very bright yellow, and think about what you wear with it. I used to think that I couldn't wear yellow, and then a saleswoman at a boutique I used to go to talked me into trying on a bright yellow pantsuit. I was wearing a white blouse at the time, and didn't like the look. Then she brought me a black blouse to put on, and, boy, did the color pop! So I make sure to wear a dark or bright tone, or a print that has a hint of yellow. And I look great.
Jenna - Thanks for the link to the Jason Wu article. I don't understand why you thought it could be off-topic.?
Sorry guys, I didn't love either of the inauguration day ensembles.
The mention of yellow is interesting because like a robot I purchased my first (lemongrass)yellow piece EVER from J Crew last week!
http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/WomenBrowse/Women_Shop_By_Category/sweaters/merino/PRDOVR~99986/99101605597/99986.jsp
...funny how examples of the expensive pieces inspire us to consider the more affordable options.
I can't wear yellow either. If I really wanted to try it, however, I might try something that wasn't close to my face; a belt, maybe, or some shoes (although not $500 flats). Maybe a top with a more suitable color under a jacket or sweater.
Thanks for the comments about wearing yellow. I appreciate all of the responses. I'll try chartreuse. The idea of wearing some accessory like a yellow belt is good one too! I'm going to keep my eyes open. In the past, I think I've ignored yellow accessories almost out of habit, but Mrs. O has inspired me to follow my bliss... I think there is a bright yellow something in my future wardrobe.
This is such a nice site to visit.